Australia Helps Curb Illegal Pacific Fishing

The Australian Defence Force mission against illegal fishing in the Pacific is progressing well after the successful completion of multi-national Operation RAI BALANG.

Operation RAI BALANG is the first of four annual regional monitoring, control and surveillance missions involving Pacific Island nations. The operation counters illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activities in the area.

Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Ash Power said an Australian AP-3C Orion provided surveillance of 60 per cent of Palau’s exclusive economic zones in an eight hour sortie.

He said Operation RAI BALANG was one of the regional monitoring, control and surveillance missions, involving Pacific Island nations – also supported by France, New Zealand and the United States. Such operations are conducted in the exclusive economic zones of 15 Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency members in the western and central Pacific Ocean.